Five Alternative Cultural Events for Christmas in Italy
A curated list of five unconventional cultural events across Italy during the Christmas holidays includes: Michelangelo Pistoletto's 'Terzo Paradiso' installation in the Quartieri Spagnoli of Naples, where a large mirror invites public interaction; a temporary loan of Bronzino's 'Madonna with Child, Saint Elizabeth and Saint John' to the 35th floor of the Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper in Turin, part of the 'L'Ospite Illustre' series; the return of Botticelli's 'Venus' to the Galleria Sabauda in Turin after an exhibition in Tbilisi, Georgia; 'Praesepivm', an open-air nativity performance in Casole d'Elsa, Siena, featuring 350 actors and 400 handmade costumes; and 'Laser Symphony', an interactive laser and sound installation by Marcello Arosio at Palazzo dei Leoni in Messina, previously shown at Cremona Tec-Night and Staro Riga Light Festival.
Key facts
- Michelangelo Pistoletto installed 'Terzo Paradiso' at FOQUS Foundation in Naples' Quartieri Spagnoli.
- The mirror installation measures 3.60×2.40 meters and features the infinity symbol.
- Bronzino's painting is on display at Spazio Trentacinque in Turin's Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper until January 7.
- The skyscraper was designed by Renzo Piano and is 166 meters tall.
- Botticelli's 'Venus' returned to Galleria Sabauda after being exhibited in Tbilisi, Georgia.
- Praesepivm takes place in Casole d'Elsa on December 26, 30, 2017, and January 1, 6, 7, 2018.
- Laser Symphony is open until December 30 at Palazzo dei Leoni in Messina.
- The installation was previously shown at Cremona Tec-Night and Staro Riga Light Festival in Latvia.
Entities
Artists
- Michelangelo Pistoletto
- Mimmo Paladino
- Umberto Manzo
- Bronzino
- Sandro Botticelli
- Marcello Arosio
- Renzo Piano
- Migliore+Servetto Architects
- Luciana Calamassi
Institutions
- Fondazione FOQUS
- Comieco
- Intesa Sanpaolo
- Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte
- Gallerie d'Italia
- Musei Reali di Torino
- Galleria Sabauda
- Associazione CasoleEventi
- Città Metropolitana di Messina
- AreaOdeon – Kernel Festival
- Staro Riga Light Festival
- Sicilia Light Art Festival
Locations
- Naples
- Italy
- Quartieri Spagnoli
- via Portacarrese a Montecalvario 69
- 80134 Naples
- Turin
- Corso Inghilterra 3
- Torino
- Tbilisi
- Georgia
- Casole d'Elsa
- Siena
- Messina
- Palazzo dei Leoni
- Corso Cavour 86
- Cremona
- Riga
- Latvia